Sectional box



H. WILHELM SECTIONAL BOX '.Dec. 28 1926.

Filed 'Nov` 7.

2 Sheets-Sheet nMWWWWWIMWMWWHHMMWWWMWWWWWWWM 2 sneeps-Sneei 2' Des. 28 192%.

H. VJLHELM SECTIONAL BOX Filed Nov, v

lfatented ec. 28, 1926.

ll illlE STATES HENRY WILHELM, 0F BRCBILYT, 'ixTEW' YORK.

SECTONL EUX.

Application led November rlhis invention relates to sectional boxes or' that class in which a plurality or a series of nested boxes or compartments, such as letter boxes, may be collectively locked in series by means ot a master lock, and in which each box or compartment may be individually unlocked or opened by the o-wner'o't the box.

An object of this invention is to provide a series or a nest of boxes mounted as a unit within a frame adapted to be set into the wall, wherein improved means is provided tor hinging the entire unit for swinging movement on the frame so as to permit access thereto upon unlocking the master lock, the hinged structure being` such as to permit the boxes as a unit to be readily removed and replaced, thereby facilitating great-ly the assembly ol1 the boxes.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sectional box construction having an improved finishing molding se lnreil thereto, the construction or". the Yframework and molding strips being such that the latter may be readily and quickly applied in positionand at the same time providing an attractive and relatively cheap construction.

A further object of this invention is to provide a sectional box structure which will be relatively simple in construction, which requires no considerable skill to install, which will be strong, durable, easy to assemble and take down and relatively cheap to make, thereby rendering it very desirable for large apartment houses and tenements, ior instance, where it is important that boxes which are strong enough to withstand tampering be provided, and which at the same time may be installed at a. ini nim labor and without requiring skilled mechanics.

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the acconipanying drawings forming a part or' this specitication wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts in the .several views and wherein Fig. 1 is a liront elevation illustrating a present form ot my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional perspective view illustrating' the construction ot` the skeleton frame for housing` the nested boxes; Fig. 3 is a vertical transverse section oi' the assembled construction; and Fig.

7 1921i. Serial llo. 748.50f2.

d is a fragmentary sectional plan view of lthe assembled construction.

Before explaining in detail the present improvement and mode ot operation thereof, l desire to have it understood that the invention is not limited to the details ot construction and arrangement or' parts which are illustrated in the accompanying` drawings, since the invention is capable ot' other embodiments, and that the phraseology which l employ is for the purpose ot description and not ol limitation.

ln the present instance by way of illustration, the sectional box construction is shown as coniprising` a series oft tour nested boxes or compartments adapted for use as letter boxes which may be individually locked and opened, and also collectively locked and opened by means ot a single master lock, but oi course it will be understood that the invention is not limited to any particular number of boxes as a larger or smaller number may be utilized where desired. the present construction being illustrative ot a way iu which my invention is applied.

The series of boxes or compartments are adapted to be mounted or housed within a skeleton framework 9, the nest or' boxes being ,formed a unit so that they can be readily inserted or removed from the framework 9 as a unit.V This skeleton framework 9 comprises a top horizontal wall 10 and a bottom horizontal wall il connected together by vertical end walls 12, these parts formii'ig a rigid skeleton framework. The framework 9 may be Atermed trom suitable sheet metal and the top l() is bent downwardly at the rear edge to t'orm a vertical llange 13, and is bent upwardly at the 'liront edge to i'orm an oppositely extending vertical flange 14. In like manner the bottoni 11 is bent up to form a flange 15 at the inner edge and a downwardly extending flange ork skirt i6 along the outer edge.. rthe end walls 12 in like manner are bent at the inner edges to provide inwardly extending flanges 17 and at the outer edges to 'torni outwardly extending flanges 18. rilhe juxtaposed edges ot the several r'langes may be joined or secured together in any suitable manner as by welding or soldering.

The skeleton framework 9 is set into a hole in the wall of the building and the (itl lle

flanges 13, and 17 secured in any suitable manner to the usual cross beams ot the wall. Housed within the framework 9 is a casing which is divided into a series or' compartments or individual boxes, this casing being mounted on the base or bottom 11 ot the framework through the medium of hinge members which permit the :asing comprising the series of letter boxes or compartments to be swung into and out ot' position within the framework. rllhis casing comprises a lengthwise extending bottom wall 19, a vertical back wall and end walls 21 forming a rectangular box-like structure. The casing is divided into a series of individual compartments or letter' boxes by means of vertical partitions 22 extending 'forwardly from the rear wall 20. Connected to the base or bottom wall 19 of the easing and extending lengthwise 'trom end to end thereof is an apron member 23. Each compartment or box 24 is provided with a door 25 at the front thereof. each door extendingI from the upper edge oi the apron 23 to the top ot the casing. The door 25a shown at the right hand end of the casing is hinged to the end wall 21 by means ot suitable hinge members 26 and the remaining doors are hinged to the partitions 22 by means of corresponding hinge members 27.

ln the pres-ent instance the several doors of the compartments at the lower edges thereof are formed to overlap the edge ot' the apron 23 and also when closed to abut against laterally extending flanges 28 at the front edges or the several partitions 22. Fach door is provided with a suitable key controlled lock 29 having a b'olt 30 adapted to cooperate in rear of a vertical flange 28 when the doors are locked.

Mounted upon the base 11 ot the framework 9 and secured thereto is a lengthwise extending hinge member 31 which comprises a plate having the longitudinal edges thereof bent upwardly to form a channel member. A second hinge member 32 which also comprises a lengthwise extending metal plate bent at the longitudinal edges to form a channel member is secured to the under face ot the base 19 or the casing. lt will be noted that the channel member 32 has slightly less width than the channel member 31, and that these members are positioned in reverse relation so that the flanges of member 32 will extend downwardly within the upwardly extending flanges oit the member 31. Located on the bottom of each compartment is a washer plate 33 and the channel-shaped hinge member 32 is secured to the bottom ot the casing 9 by means of screws 34 extending through each washer and through the bottom part of each vcompartment 24.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the tiet bottom wall or the casing is detachably secured by means ot screws 34 to the flat horizontal port-ion of the channel member 32` so that as a result the entire casing with its several compartments or individual let-ter boxes may be swung forwardly as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, the hinge member 31 being stationary and secured to the bottom ot the framework and the construction ot the channel members located one within the other permitting the channel member 32 to pivot or swingl upwardly relatively to the channel member 31.

ln the present instance a casing comprising a nest of tour compartments or letter boxes is illustrated, and cent-rally ot the casing a small compartment 35 is provided for housing a master lock 3G. This compartment 35 is closed at the front by means of a plate 37, which is secured to the adjacent partitions 22, and the master lock 36 is secured to the inside ot' the plate 37 adjacent to the top thereof. This lock 36 is provided with a key controlled bolt 38.

Each compartment of the casing 9 is open at the top thereof to permit mail matter to be inserted therein. ln order to limit the forward swinging movement ot the casing the top wall 10 or the framework is provided at the front edge thereof with a series ot downwardly extending projecting stops 39. ln the present instance these stop members 39 are punched or formed from the metal ot' the top wall 10 and bent downwardly, each stop member 39 projecting into one or the compartments. As shown in Fig. 3 the upper edges 4-0 ot the several partitions 22 and the end walls 21 are sloped or tapered inwardly, so that the front or each compartment is higher than the back ot each compartment. and the height or the upper edge ot the rear wall2() is such as to 'cause the same to engage the stops 39 when the casing is swung forwardly as shown in Fig. 3. The stop member 39 which extends int the central compartment `35 containing the master lock forms an abutment for the bolt 38 ot this lock. Thus it will be seen that when the key is turned in the master locl: 36 and the bolt 38 withdrawn from the stop 39 the casing may be swung forwardly upon the hinge members until the rear wall 2O engages the several. stops 39. In this manner all of the 'compartments will be open at the top and the mail mattei" may be inserted therein by the postman. "When the casing is locked by means or the master lock in the position shown in 'full lines in Fig. 3 and also shown in Fig. 1, the individual compartments are accessible only by unlocking each individual lock 29.

The structure is readily assembled as tollows: The hinge member is first placed in position within the hinge member 31, and thereupon the entire casing 9 is slid horizontally into the 'framework up'on the upper flat surface or the hinge member 32 until llll the corresponding openings 1n the hinge plate Thereupon the vscrews 84 are inserted in the registering openings 1n each compartment and the parts secured together thereby. Thus it will be seen that the casing 9 comprising the nested boxes may be easily placed in `position or removed merely by sliding it into or outof position upon the hinge plate 32 horizontally, the upper edge of the back wall 2() clearing the stops 39 when the casing is shifted horizontally, but when the casing is swung on the hinges the upper edge of the back wall 2O will engage the stop members 39 as shown in dotted lines in `Before the framework 9 has been placed in position in the wall of the building metallic moulding strips 41 are mounted upon the several flanges 14, 16 and iS-of the framework. The moulding strips' comprise sections of metal which are bent into channel form so as to embrace the 'lianges 16. As shown in Fig.A 1 a single channel formed moulding strip is mounted upon each lengthwise extending flange 14 and 1G of the framework, and a similar mouldinga strip is mounted upon each vertical end flange -18 of the framework. The moulding strips 41 at the opposite ends thereof may be secured to the lateral iianges of the framework by rivets F rom the foregoing it will be seen that by virtue of the improved flange construction of the framework 9 and the provision of channel formed mouldingstrips adapted to embrace the flanges a very cheap, simple and attractive moulding finish is provided for the sectional boxes.

it is to be understood that by describing in detail herein any particular form, structure or arrangement, it is not intended to limit the invention beyond the terms of the several claims or the requirements of the prior art.

Having thus explained the nature of my said invention and described a way of con sti-notingl and using the same, although without attempting to set yforth all of the forms in which it may be made, or all of the modes of its use, l claim:

1. The combination of a skeleton framework, a box like casing divided into a plurality of compartments supported within said framework, means for locking each comi'iartment, a master lock for locking' the casing, and means for hinging` said casing,` at the bottom thereof for swinging movement,

said means comprising a pair of relatively sliiftable hinge members located in rear of the front edge of said framework, said framework and casing,Y having detachably connected lo one thereof, one of said hinge members, to permit the casing to be bodily shifted into and out of the framework.

2. The combination of supporting means,

a. swinging casing' divided into a plurality of compartments open at the top, a door for each compartment, means for locking each door, a master lock forv locking the casing, means for hinginp, said casing at the bottom thereof to said supporting means for swinging movement and so located that no part of said hinging means is accessible from the outside of said supporting means and its casing, and means for detachably securing one part of said hinging means to the casing thereby to permit the casing to be bodily removed from or assembled with the supporting means, said securing means being accessible only froni the inside of the compartments when they are opened.

3. The combination of a rectanguiar skeleton framework, a lbox like casing divided into a plurality of compartments and supported within said framework, a door for each compartment, means for locking each door, a master lock for locking,` said casing?,

and a pair of channel formed hinge members for hinging said casing within the framework, said channel formed members extending one within the other, one thereof beingl secured to the bottom of the framework and the other to the bottom of said casing.

4. The combination of supporting means, a swinging casing divided into a plurality of compartments open at the top, a door for each compartment, means for locking each door, amaster lock for lockingthe casing, means for hinging said casing at the bottoni thereof to said supporting means for swinging movement and so located that no part of said hinging means is accessible from the outside of said supporting, means and its casing, means for detachably securing one part of said hinging means to the casing thereby to permit the casing,l to be bodily removed from or assembled witlr the supporting means, said securing means being` accessible only from the inside of the co1npartments when they are opened, and stop means for limiting` the swinging,` movement of the casing.

5. The combination of supporting means, a plurality of connected boxes open at the top, means for hinginpsaid boxes to the supporting' means, said means comprisingl a pair of interlocked members one thereof having a horizontal top portion forming; a support for the bottom of the boxes. and means within a box and inaccessible from the outside thereof for detachably connectin?,- said last member to such box.

6. The combination of a supporting` framework, a plurality of connected boxes having enclosing side and bottom walls and openings at the top. a pair of hinge members located beneath the bottom wall of said boxes and entirely between the front and rear edges thereof for forming a support for the boxes, means located interiorly of said boxes and accessible only from the inside for detachably connecting t-he boxes to one of said hinge members to permit the boxes to be bodily assembled and removed relative to said framework, a master lock for the boxes and a door for each box having an individual lock.

7. The combination ot' supporting means, a easing divided into a plurality of compartments, means for hinging the casing' to the supporting means and comprising a pair of channel plates secured one to said supporting means and the other to the bottom of the casing, said plates being located between the front and rear edges of the casing and forming a support for the bottom thereof. v

8. The combination ot' supporting` means, a box-like housing divided into a plurality of compartments, means for hinging said housing to the supporting' means and comprising a channel member located between the supporting means and the bott-om of the housing', means Within each compartment for detachably connecting the bottom of the housing to said channel member, means for individually locking each compartment, and means for locking the housing.

9. rl`he combination of supporting means, a. plurality of compartments, a channel member carried between the bottom of the compartments and said supporting means, and means accessible only from Within the compartments for detachably connecting said compartments to said channel member.

l0. The combination of supporting means, a plurality of connected boxes open at the top, means for hinging said boxes to 'the supporting means and comprising a pair oli cooperating hinge members, one extending within the other and connected one to said boxes and the other to said supporting means, oneof said hinge members comprising' a horizontal plate having the opposite edges forming parallel vertical llanges.

ll. The. combination of a supporting frame adapted to be inserted Within a` hole in a Wall, a plurality of connected boxes having enclosing front, back, side and bottom walls and openings at the top, hinge means located Within said frame and exteriorly ot' said boxes, means tor detach-- ably connecting said boxes to saidhinge means and accessible from; the inside oi' the boxes, said connecting means being inaccessible from the outside of the boxes when the latter are in position Within said frame.

Signed at 1822 Park Row Building, New York city, New York, this 29th day oif October, 1924.

HENRY WILHELM. 

